Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: taxonomy field courses

Intensive course extending over one week.

Biodiversity loss, often referred to as biodiversity crisis, is a global environmental problem causing international concern and demanding urgent counteracting measures. Biodiversity is commonly defined in terms of a number of species present in a particular environment, or in total in the world. This makes species not only one of the fundamental biological concepts but also a focus of global conservation efforts. That is why practical experience with morphology based species identification is in high demand in both basic and applied biological research. During the year 2020 we offer two options for the field courses. The courses are organized and funded by ForBio - Research school in Biosystematics http://www.forbio.uio.no/ Part 1. 13-18 July, 2020 "Genetic Monitoring of arctic plant-insect networks", NIBIO Svanhovd research station. Students will receive hands-on training in sampling and identification of plants and insects in different habitats in the northern forest-tundra ecotone, as well as an understanding of the uses of the latest genetic methods in research on the structure and functioning of arctic plant-herbivore-parasitoid and plant-pollinator networks. This field course provides a good complement for ForBio courses on barcoding and metabarcoding methods. Svanhovd station is coordinating a research project on barcode-based monitoring of northern environments and insect communities. Applications of DNA barcode data on the diverse insect communities inhabiting the forest-tundra ecotone will be discussed during the lectures. See additional information on ForBio webpages: https://www.forbio.uio.no/events/courses/2020/ForBio_NIBIO_Genetic_monitoring.html Part 2 . 9-14 August, 2020 "Vascular plant flora of central Sweden" is run at the field station Tovetorp, Stockholm University (58°56'50''N, 17°08'56''E ) in Södermanland 40 km SW of Södertälje, there will be excursions during day-time and teacher-led lectures combined with student presentations and hands-on exercises in e.g. Case studies during evenings. Tovetorp is strategically located with species rich habitats as seashores, rich fens, calcareous rocks, broadleaved deciduous forests and coniferous forests as well as bogs and lakes nearby.

See additional information on ForBio webpages: https://www.forbio.uio.no/events/courses/2020/vascular%20plant%20field%20biology-forbio-slu-2020.html ForBio members that are MSc-, PhD-students or PostDocs in Norway can have travel and living costs covered (contact ForBio) http://www.forbio.uio.no/events/

Who can apply as a singular course student:

• PhD student enrolled at another institution than UiT. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.
• Holders of a master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. These applicants must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you, see the following list: Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countries. For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document:  Proficiency in english - PhD level studies 

Maximum 15 participants.

If more than 15 applicants, priority will be given as follows:

• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT
• Participants in the Associate Professor programme (Førstelektorprogrammet)
• PhD candidates from other universities
• People with a minimum of a Masters degree (or equivalent), who have not been admitted to a PhD programme

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• BIO-3024 Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: taxonomy field courses 5 stp
• BIO-8001 Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: field courses in Skibotn 2 stp

Language of instruction and examination

PhD students at UiT apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September. The registration starts 15. May.

Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb before 1. June. Application code 9301. For applicants who are granted a seat, a study right will be created, and these applicants  apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1 September.

The study right gives the applicant admission to register to other open PhD courses or apply for a seat to PhD courses where entry is limited.